Show them, hold them ransom
To thy conceit, craving gapes, wild applause
To feed thy vanity absent which leaves thee bare
Replete with faux auras, hankering for more
All style, substance fading
Vacant shells roll on clonking, hollow
Growing emptiness, insatiably
High on self, low on all else
Fueling manic growth of voids
Inner tears roll on concealed
Streaking the soul’s cheeks
Grief belied by lionizing fans
Whose own vacuums solicit thy refills
All the while, substance goes begging
Craving fusion with thy essence
Lending meat to weary bones of self
Opening eyes, hitherto blinded
By venomous pride, walls of exclusion
Crumbling, at the mercy of thy pride’s chisel
Fecklessly claiming, the soul’s attention
Pride now vital, an existential must
Love not spared the ravages of pride
Now turned outside in
Ne’er inside out, for beloveds
To exult over thy highest blessing
Filling life with hunks of meaning
For joys to be soulful
And souls to be joyful
Melting away the gloom
Of Vanity’s seasons of toxic harvest
I feel the closing is what soothes me best... maybe we can all get over the toxic part of being left.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSome very nice stuff here - really like the emotion of 'pride's chisel' and 'vanity's season of toxic harvest' Thanks for sharing this Alwi
ReplyDeleteA pleasure Scott...
DeleteThis is so potent. Especially like; "Love not spared the ravages of pride. Now turned outside in ne’er inside out, for beloveds."
ReplyDeleteAlways happy to have you here Sanaa. Glad you liked it.
DeleteToxic harvest. What a fabulous closing to a fabulous poem.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite part:
"Grief belied by lionizing fans
Whose own vacuums solicit thy refills"
Love your cadence and rhythm!
ReplyDeleteThank you Frank.
DeleteThe rhythm of this poem gives off lots of energy, which underlines your words nicely.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your generous comment.
DeleteEspecially like:
ReplyDeleteLove not spared the ravages of pride
Now turned outside in...
Glad you liked this. Thank you
DeleteDescriptive and evocative musing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul.
DeleteThick rich language
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erbiage.
DeleteI did not understand this, but I found this line interesting: "High on self, low on all else"
ReplyDeleteYou hit at the heart of the poem, Frank. In fact that was what got it going. Thank you.
DeleteQuite a strong commentary on pride and how it keeps us selfish and apart from others. I do appreciate the positive note at the end. There's always room for betterment.
ReplyDeleteAlways room for betterment indeed. Thank you.
DeleteThis reads like an exploration to one's internal journey ~
ReplyDeleteI specially like: And souls to be joyful
Melting away the gloom
Thank you for gracing me with a visit and a comment, Gace.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to rid ourselves of anything toxic in our lives.
ReplyDeleteGood write. Also, good use of the "old language."
ReplyDelete